Shower bath



sept. 29, 1931. 1.1. KEEFE 1,825,355

SHOWER B-ATH Filed May 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l I S14/vanto@ JOI/NJ. KEEFE Sept 29, `1931.. J, J* KEEP-E 1,825,355

- SHOWER BATH Filed May 28, 195o 2 siens-sheet 2 i Briefly invention Patented Sept. `2.9, 1931 f UNITED l ,",ToINtMKEnFEQoF sANnNToNIo, TEXAS SIiWER ,MTHV

AApp1iaemi"inea ivi@Y es,

This invention relates to shower baths especially adapted for use in public bath houses althoughl not ynecessarily restricted 1to-such use.` f

stated, animportant object of this the weight of a-bather on a depressible' platformbrings aboutthe opening of a shower controlling valve with the result that the discharge of water from the shower y1s accomplished and immediately upon theremoval'of the weight of the bather from-the platform' `the discharge of water is "stopped,i t being feet of conserving water andthe germicidal solution with which the Water may `beimpregnated.V l

A further and the invention is to Vprovide an automatic shower in which the supporting means for the depressible platform is arrangedftohold the platform against canting and possible binding as a result ofthe unequal: distribution of weightthereon.

a shower bath of the `character described which is ,of highly simplified construction,AV comparatively cheapv to manufacture and f:

which is of sufcientlyrugged constructionto withstand theabuse to which showers are.

subjected in public and othervplaces.

, Other objects and'advantage4 parent during the course ofthe following description.

numerals. are employed to designate parts throughout 'thesame,`

by Lwhich anantiseptic'is introduced into the water supply, f

Y Figure-2521s a taken on line 2-2 of Figure'l,

ing the platform, the view4 being taken on' line3-3ofFigure2,l

Figure 4 visa vertical sectional view through is to provide simple means by which equally i important object of @einer thereef with e fsupptin S l'horizontal sectional lview fissa serieu No.A 456,480;

the shower, the view beinglitaken at right v anglesto Figurel, i i i 1 Figure 5 is an enlarged detail verticalmetional View illustratingthe valve operating`- means.

Inthe drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment .of the invention, the numeral ideeig hates a structure such as" abath houseand within which an .enclosure 6, forming the shower bathmay be located, Figures land 2 illustrate that access to the enclosure 6 is aorded by a doorway having doors 7 The any desired proportion to the volume .ofi

y'waterffed to theshower. As the introduction of the antiseptic into the water may be accomplished in any one of a vai-iet of ways andforms no special part of the in- Another aim of the invention'istoprovidelsvntion no :detailed disclosure of this be found in 7this application. y

The mainsupply pipe 10 extends beneath 'a depressible platform "14 andis provided Swat'er through the several branch pipes-20 "is controlled. As shown in Figure 4, the

S will be p branch pipes 20 extend up along the sides 'and 'across the top of vthe enclosure 'Gand provided with' shower heads 22. Fig- Y Qure -4 "further Villustratesthat the 'shower' In the vaccompanying drawings `forming a-..

part ofthis application and in which like like'J heads 22 are -positioned to direct sprays downward l and horizontallyon the' person Vst'ane'ling'lonthe'platform 14 so thatfequal and complete coverage is obtained. c' The platform l4is preferably of rectangular formatQl andha'sconnection at each stud 1.26, the. 'nprjrorton 'OWhCh fait@ threllgh *Tanfopeningiii 'the platform. l 'Figure 3 illusy y Y 'trates'A thatfupper and lower langesl27 Vand Figure 3' is a detail sectional view-"illustrat-V ing one of the means'for yicldinglysupport-f 28"'resp'ective`ly`are secured'to opposite surffacesjof theplatform through the medium f'of fasteningbolts 30 and have `the openings *therein in alignment with `the adj aceht opening in the platform; "In `carrying out the withagate valve 16 by whichfthe flowfof noted that such vanarrangement has the'ef- OPPOSG Side 8 0f the 'ShWeI blth may be` invention, the lower flange is provided in the underside thereof with a depending rib constituting a guide for an expansion spring 32, the lower portion of which engages a thimble 34 resting on the base 36. It is believed to be apparent that the expansion spring 62 which encircles the stud 26 cooperates with a second coil spring 40 in urging the platform 14 to the elevated position disclosed in Figure 1.

The lower p-ortion of the expansion spring 40 is nested in, and is supported by, a thimble or annulus 42 mounted on the threaded upper portion of the stud 26. The thimble 42 is mounted on a stop nut 43 shown to be inthe. path of tra-vel of and adapted to be engaged by the central portion'of the lower -flange 28 to limit upward movement of the platform under the influence of the springs 32 and 40.

Each expansion spring 40 is confined Y 'within a guide cylinder 46, the-upper end of the cylinder.

which is engaged with a cap 48 carried by Each cylinder 46 is threaded through the adjacent upper flange 27 and is "adjustable with respect thereto so that the effective strength of the upper spring 40 i may be varied. y A vThe downward movement of the platform under the weight of a bather is limited by a set screw 49 carried by the 'cap and adapted to engage a contact member 52 secured on the upper portion of the stud 26 by a cap `'nut 54. It is preferred to have the contact element 52 of a soft material such as lead, fiber, or rubber, so that the downward movef ment of the platform will be yieldingly arrested.

As best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a jyoke 55 is connected at the ends thereof to opposite sides of the platform and is provided with converging arms joined by a bifrht portion to which the stem 56 of the gate va ve 16 is connected. It is believed to be apparent 45. s ult in the opening of the gate valve 16 to that the depression of the platform will rebring about the discharge of water from the various shower heads 22 and that when the 5o i 'the four corners of the platform will prom trweight on the platform 14 is removed, the `concerted action of the springs 32 and 40 at ',ly return the platform to elevated position and thereby cut off the further discharge of water.

'also that the main supply pipe 10 is disposedA Figures '1 and 2 illustrate that the platform 5 14 is composed largely of a plurality of spaced, parallel, Slat-like members defining 'i passages or slots through whichvwater may drain into 'a concrete drain pit 60, to be car- T e0 served with special reference to Figures 1 i. and 4 that the yoke 55 is extended below the yried 0H by a drain pipe 61. It will be 0bcentral portion of the platform and is received within the upper portion of the pit,

at right angles to, and above the horizontal bight portion of, the yoke 55. The valve 16 located in the main supply pipe 10, is positioned directly above the bight portion of the yoke and is connected thereto by a depending valve stem 56.

In the operation of the improved shower bath, the bather has only to enter the enclosure 6 and stand upon the platform 14 to bring about the downward movement of the platform, whereupon the gate valve 16 is opened to allow of the flow of medicated water froln the shower heads 22. The flow of water will continue as long as the person remains on the platform and when the shower has been completed the bather may leave by way of the opening 8 permitting the springs 32 and 40 to return the platform to its original elevated position whereupon the supply of water is cut off.

A shower bath constructed in accordance with this invention is of highly simplified construction and is sufficiently rugged to withstand the Yabuse to which public and other showers are subjected. Also, the ai-, rangement is such that ready access to the Yvarious working parts, for example the gate the central slats of the platform or by the removal of the entire platform.

It is to be understood that the form of i11- vention herewith shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example of the same and that such minor changes in arrange,- ment and construction of parts may be made as will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: y 1. In a shower bath, a platform, springs supporting the platform at the corners thereof and normally holding the same in elevated position, a supply pipe having means to discharge' a bathing ysolution above said platform, a valve controlling the flow of i fluid through said pipe and having a stem, and a yoke suspended from said platform and having a bight portion operatively connected to said stem. 5

2. In a shower bath, a platform, adjustable spring means at the corners of said platform to normally hold the same in an elevated position, a fluid supply pipe extending beneath said platformnnd having a valve provided4 with a stem, a yoke extending' centrally beneath said platform and connected to opposite sides of the same, said vokev being provided with a horizontally disposed portion connected to said stem to operate the valve, vandv shower heads having connection with .Hal

the same in an elevated position, a yoke extending centrally beneath said platform andv connected to opposite sides of the same, a fluid conducting pipe extending beneath the platform at right angles to said yoke and being provided with a valve, means establishing an operative connection between the valve and the yoke, and outlet members connected to said Huid supply pipe.

4. In a shower, a platform, means yieldingly holding the platform in an elevated position, a fluid supply pipe extending beneath the platform, a valve for said pipe and havinga 'depending actuating stem, a yoke extending at right angles to said pipe and being provided with a horizontally disposed biglit portion underlying said valve and connected to the stem thereof to operate the stem, said fluid supply pipe havingbranches provided with spray heads.

5. In a structure of the class described, aV

platform having an opening, V'a supporting stud in said opening, upper andV lower flanges secured to opposite sides of said platform at opposite ends of said opening, a spring engaged with said lower flange vto urge the platform upward, and a stop nut on the up.- per portion of said stud and located in the path of travel of and yadapted to be engaged by said lower flange to limit upward movement of the platform. i v

6. In a structure of the class described, a platform having an opening, a supporting stud in said opening. upper and lower flanges secured to opposite sides of said platform at opposite ends of said opening, a spring engaged with said lower flange to urge the platform upward, a stop nut on the upper portion of said stud and located in the path of travel of and adapted to be engaged by said lower flange to limit'upward movement of the platform, a cylinder threaded through said upper flange andhaving a cap, anda second spring confined between said cap and stop nut and acting in concert with said first named spring to urge the platform upward.

7. In a structure of the class described, a platform having an opening, a supporting stud in said opening, upper and lower flanges secured to opposite sides of 'said platform at opposite ends of said opening, a

gaged by said set screw to cushion the descent of said platform.

8. In a structure of the class described, a platform having an opening, `a supporting stud in said opening, upper and lower flanges secured to opposite sides of said platform at opposite `ends of said opening, a spring engaged with said lower flange to urge the platform upward, a stop nutY on said stud and located in the path of travel of and adapted to be engaged by said lower flange to limit upward movement of the platform, a cylinder threaded through said upper flange and having a cap,'and a second spring confined between said cap and said stop nut and acting in concert with said first named spring to urge the platform upward, said cylinder being adjustable with respect to said flange to allow theV tension of said second named spring to be varied.

9. In a structure of the class described, a

platform having an opening, a supporting stud extending into saidopening, la spring beneath said platform and urging the same upward, a stop nut on said stud and located within said opening, a stop member on said nut, a sprin engaged with said stop member, a cylin er receiving said second named spring and having a'stop therefor, and means carried by said cylinder and said stud to limit the descent of said platform, said stud being positioned within said cylinder.

10. In a structure of the class described, a platform having an opening, a supporting stud extending intosaid opening, a spring beneath said platform and urging the same upward, a stop nut on said stud and located within said opening, a stop member on said nut, a sprin engaged with said stop member, a cylin er receiving said second named spring and having a stop therefor, and means carried by said cylinder and said stud to limit the descent of said platform, said stud being positioned within said cylinder, there being spring engaged with said lower flange to urge the platform upward, a stop nut on the up- ,per portion of said stud and located in the path of travel of and adapted to be engaged by said lower flange to limit upward movement of the platform, a cylinder threaded through said upper flange and having a cap, a second spring confined between said cap and said stop nut and acting in concert with said first named spring to urge the platform upward, and a set screw carried by said cap, said stud being provided with a cushion in the path of travel of and adapted to be en- 

